By Amari Dahlhaus, Youth Travel Ambassador, FCDO

The World Cup may be in the US, Canada and Mexico this year – but a lot of Brits will be supporting the teams from elsewhere; a packed Spanish plaza, outside of Parisian cafés, or singing alongside thousands in a German fan park.. The stadium is only part of the story – and the World Cup atmosphere is best experienced around people, no matter where you are.

If you’re planning on travelling to  Europe to watch the matches, it’s worth remembering that each country does things a little differently. 

If you’re watching the World Cup in Spain (where World Cup kick-off times are fortunately quite favourable), public drinking laws are in force in many cities to help manage overcrowding and noise. In parts of the Balearic Islands, for example, public drinking is not allowed, meaning taking alcohol onto streets or into parks can result in on-the-spot fines.

While you can still drink outside in some places, it’s important to be aware of the specific rules where you’re staying. Some cities have stricter regulations, and travellers can be caught out if they’re not familiar with the local laws.

Fan zones are one of the best ways to experience World Cup atmosphere without even stepping inside a stadium. In many cities expect security checks at the entrance, including bag searches, and restrictions that may cover items such as large bags, glass bottles, and sometimes certain flags or banners. On big match days in particular, these areas can become extremely crowded. It’s a good idea to agree on meeting points with friends in advance, as mobile networks can be unreliable when thousands of people are trying to connect at once.

The World Cup is slightly longer than usual this year, it runs for just over a month from 11 June to 19 July. However, if you decide to continue your stay in Europe after the World Cup, there are a few key travel rules to keep in mind. For British travellers, the Schengen area rules allow stays of up 90 days in any 180 day period without a visa, which is important to keep in mind for longer, multi-country trips. It’s also essential to check passport validity, as it needs a ‘date of issue’ less than 10 years before the date you arrive and needs to be valid for at least 3 months after leaving the Schengen area.

A European World Cup summer isn’t defined by where you watch the matches, but how you experience them. From packed plazas to fan zones and late-night streets, it’s a continent united by football, and best enjoyed with good mates and a bit of planning to keep it all running smoothly.

If you’re heading to watch the World Cup in the US, Canada or Mexico, check out the gov.uk travel advice here, and Travel Advice for Canada and Mexico. Or, if you’re planning to watch it at different locations across Europe, visit the country-by-country Travel Advice here.